Type-writing machine.



O. fUERMANN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATiON FILED AUG.1H. I914. 1,261,850 Patented Apr. 9,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET j;

3mm Mm 36" 0:2; pgier/n'anw 8 WW wm 0. PETERMANN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AU6.I8. 19:4.

1 ,261,850, Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nmntoz 2% Oil; @erwmmw 33 I154 W O UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO PETERMANN, 0F GROTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO CORONA TYPEWRITEB COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed August 18, 1914. Serial No. 857,843.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. O'l'ro PETERMANN, a itizen of the Republic of Switzerland, nd a resident of Groton. county of Tompins, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-VVriting Machines. of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to the key action of front-strike or other visible typewriting machines.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a key action which has a very easy, velvety and uniform touch and in which the type-bars have an upward and rearward accelerated movement, and in such a way that a direct pull is effected between the key-levers or key-operated levers and the said type-bars.

Otherobjects of the invention are to provide a simple and efficient key action in which subs antially all the parts may be punched fibm sheet steel or other suitable material; to provide means whereby the parts of the key action may be readily made and assembled; and to provide a key action in which the construction is such that a minimum amount of frictional and wearing surfaces are provided.

.Another object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby all of the key-levers may be mounted upon a single rod or shaft and the key-levers and parts operated thereby so constructed and arranged that substantially a uniform touch is obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key action in which the type-bar is connected to an auxiliary lever and the auxiliary levers connected by a floating and rocking link to a key-lever in such a way that the relation of the link and levers is changed to give an accelerated movement to the type-bar.

still further object of the invention is to provide a key action for various kinds of typewriters in which a minimum space with the least possible amount of material is employed and which is particularly adapted for small portable machines.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particuintermediate or auxiliary levers of the key (5 action.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of a slightly different form of floating link or connection between the key-levers and the auxiliary levers.

* ig. 5 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of a key action somewhat different from that shown in Fig. 1, but embodying the same principle; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to 5 except that the parts are somewhat di erently arranged.

The frame 10 may be of any suitable con- /struction and above the frame may be arranged a platen 11. The platen may be mounted upon a suitable carriage and this carriage may be controlled byv the usual or any preferred form of escapement andiliv sion '01- power means. The escapement me be substantially the same as that shown n the Reissue Patent No. 1 3,935, dated June 22. 1915. or may be of any other suitable construction. The escapement is, adapted to be operated by a rocking frame, not shown, which may be moved by means of a rod 12. This rod connects the arms of bell-crank levers 13 which are pivotally mounted at the upper rear portion of the frame and at each side thereof. One arm, as 14, of each bell-crank is provided with a substantially triangular slot 15 in which the bent or inturned end 16 of an angularly arranged and reciprocating rod 17 is located. There is a rod 17 at each side of the machine and these rods are connected by a transversely extending universal bar 18. The universal bar 18 has forked or bifurcated parts 19 which are adapted to span and be guided on a transversely extending shift rod 20, the latter serving as the pivot or supporting means for the usual shifn levers, the latter forming no part of the present invention.

A series of levers 21 are pivoiully mounted upon a. rod or shaft 22 which extends s trnnsversel Y of the machine and is super; ed in the snle members of the frames l ll'ey le'ver is provided with a key or part 23 at one end and with an inwardly and downwerdly extending arm 2%. use: it; Jim: '24: has an upturned end 24 which in v be bendable edgewise and is adapted to z, gage the under inclined surface of the univ l bur l8 at the proper time so as is force lilo some upward to move the bell e on their pivot and thus one Horsal bar frame together with lent mechanism, the ribbon vibratory mechanism, and such other means may be employed, and such as may be on sled through the universal her dun in: he depression. of the keys. The levers are arranged in banks and being n ounted on a single rod, the power m'ms thereof are therefore of different lengths *lhe inner arms 24: of the key-levels. on also of relatively Eider-ant lengths to win p ns-Lite for the difierent lengths of the power arms of the key-levers so that the EEYEEJSNYQ necessary to operate the universal our and difierent mechanisms by the rliil'erent sets or banks of keys, will be substanltiolly uniform The key leve downwardly es catod dimer arm 1 a l each have an integial 53 part or arm 25 lolhe pivot rod Elli This l with an elongned enhlnt A link 22" has an end 28 which is eds sea arm of an auxiliary is on lever 31 for each key xiiiery lover is pivoted on oft or rod 31 and has its run extending above its noi d is connected to on much adjustable link 33 aer end to n lug or proul 0. one of the type-bars sled at 36, to a segment preferred; and at the type-bar is a type head 38 havin; Lv of type thereon. As eaelnkey digit-erased, the link 37 will so ope-Pelee ll-51H; ting auxilinry lever 31 V andlhrougn tin: nil: will foriae the type of tlxe'typobar with :1 pulling action upwardoandrearward for rinting purposes.

An inniortant feature of the invention are the links and their connection and action between the key-levers and the auxiliary levers. Each. link 27 is of a skeleton oharacter and has ilsinturneil angular end 28 curved and adapted to rest in its normal position against an the upper part of the bearing edge 39 of the key-lever arm 25. The slot 26 is lar enough for the end 28- to move from one si e to the other and said end is held against disengegoment by a part 40 forming a, 1i integral with the angular end 28 and Whic udnplerl to be bent over so as to engage the outer face of the key-lever arm 25. The senior end 29 of the link 27 is somewhat H1433 than the end 28 and may be straight n integral part or end 41 similar to ills lip or part 40 for the urpose of reism ing the end 29 of the link in the slot 30 of lhe auxiliary lever. The sl0t'30, like the slob; 26 is large enough for the end 39 to work Tom one side to the other and the inner bearing edge 42 of said slot 30 may be eurved to form a bearing surface for the link end 29l In, the position shown, it will be noticed fiber the upper end 28 of the link has its searing along the edge 39 at a point nearest the fulcrum rod 22, while the end 29 has its bearing point on the edge 42 of the slot 3%" farthest from the ivot rod 31 of the on lovers. At t is time and at the llleil degnression of a ke -lever, the power arm of each key-lever 21 is atest so that it is very easy initially to epl'ess the key but us the key is depressed, the bearings of i'he link shift by rolling or rocking action of the end 28 against the edge 39 and a. rolling or rocking action of the end 29 guinst the hen rin edge 42 of the slot 30 so elm at the end 0 the depression, the bearln between the end 28 and the ed 6 3 9 is furthest from the pivot rod 22 and t e bearing of the end :29 of the link along the of the slot 30 of the auxiliary lever 1s newest its pivot rod. The rollin or shifting notion of the link 27 during t e depression of the key, thus accelerates or increases the speed of the type toward the platen so that if the distance of 11 complete depression of any one key is divided into four parts, the position of the type durin its travel from its normal position to its rmtin point would be substantially that in icated y the dots 43, 44, 4-5 and 46. That is, for the first quarter of its depression, the type, would move approximate] to the (101343 the second quarter to approximately the dot 44, the third quarter to substantially the dot 45, and the last quarter to make the impression on the. work sheet. It will thus be evident that by simply the utomatie shifting or relative ohangin of the "osition of the ink 27 and the lcey= evers and the auxiliary levers forms an l-fl'ecli've means for chan 'n the speed of movement. of the upper end bf the auxilia lever It will be also evident that the deep initial depresison of the key necessary to raise the type just a fraction of the distance of its travel serves to give an easy velvet start to each ke -lever and does own with t e tiring efl'eet o a very slightly acce 130 erated key action. It will be further evident that by reason of the link 33 having a pulling action and arranged in substantially a horizontal plane, a direct pull is exerted on each type-bar. The links 27 constitute movement accelerating devices which are interposed between the key levers and the auxiliary levers and are wholly supported by the movable parts of the key action.

The auxiliary levers may each be restored by a spring 47 to its normal position, one end of each spring being secured to the lower end of the auxiliary lever and at the other end may be secured to a transversely extending rod 48 or otherwise. The auxiliary levers may be separated from each other and guided by means of a substantially U-shaped slotted comb plate 49, and the key-levers at the pivot point thereof may be also separated and guided by means of a substantially U-shaped slotted guide and comb plate 50. The auxiliary levers may vary in len h, as shown in Fig. 2, and may also have t eir upper ends bent at various angles so as to ive as direct a pull as possible to the typears. In such case if a uniform touch is to be maintained the floating link arrangement is changed accordingly to compensate for the otherwise uneven touch or action of the type-bars.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the link 51 is substantially the same as the link 27 except that the inturned end 29 is provided with an inte gral lug or lip 52 for retaining the link in operative engagement with its coiiperating auxi-l-iary lever 31. The lip or end 53 on the link end 28 in assembling is normally in alinement with the vertical edge of the i'htegral inturned end 28 so that in assembling the end 29 is first passed through the slot 30 of the auxiliary lever 31 to cause the ,lip 52 to overlap the outer surface of the auxiliary lever and when thus engaged, the bendable lip or part 53 is bent over as shown, thus holding the link in proper engagement with both the key-lever and the auxiliary lever. The link ends 28 and 29 are shown as being straight instead of being curved but it will be understood that either one or both may be curved or straight and the slots in the keylevers and auxiliary levers also curved or straight as desired. It will be also understood that by changing the curvature of the bearing edges of either the links or'key-levers and auxiliary levers, the extent and degree of acceleration may be changed at will. A It will be further understood that to take care of the reduced movement of the two lower banks of keys, tlnv lengths of the slots may be changed and the angle portions of the floating links widened to even up the touch and the depression of the different keys.

In Fig. 5, the type-bar a link 55 to an arm 56 of 5; is connected by a bell-crank lever Fig. 1. The arm 59 of the bell-crank lever 57 is slotted, at 60, and extending into the slot is an angular or inturned end 61 of a link 62. The link 62 has an inturned end 63 which enters a slot 64 in a key-lever or key-operated lever 65. The slot 64 has a curved bearing edge 66 and the slot has a curved bearing edge 67 for the link, said link having retaining lips 68 and 69 to hold the same in engagement with the auxiliary lever 57 and the key-lever 65. The keylevers have keys 70 at one end and are pivotally held on a rod 71. The inner end 72 of the key-lever is adapted to engage the universal bar 73 to operate the escapement and ribbon mechanisms. The arms 72 of the different banks of key-levers may vary in length and still provide a uniform touch as already explained in the description of the construction shown in Fig. 1, and the action of the link 62 in shifting its bearing connection with the key-lever and auxiliary lever for the purpose of giving an accelerated movement to the type-bar, is substantially the\same as that described in connection with said figure.

In Fig. 6, the construction is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 5. Here the type-bar 74 is connected by an adjustable link 75 to an auxiliary bell-crank lever 76. The bell-crank lever is ivoted on a transversely extending rod 7 and has its arm 78 adapted to engage the universal bar 79. The arm 80 of the auxiliary belLcrank lever 76 is provided with a slot 81 having a curved bearing edge 82 extending in a vertical direction. A link 83 has an inturned end 84 provided with a retaining lip 85 for holding said link movable in the slot 81 and the other end 86 of said link enters a slot 87 in an arm 88 of a bell-crank key-lever 89. The slot 87 has a curved bearing edge 90 forming a bearing surface for the inturned end 86 of the link and the said end 86 has a bendable end or lip91 for holding the end in said slot. The key-lever 89 is pivoted on a transversely extending rod 92 and the arm 93 thereof is provided with a key 9t by which the said key-lever may be depressed. As in the other forms described, when the key 94:.is depresscd,.the floating link 83 has its hearing or engaging portion of its inturned ends shiftable along the curved bearing surfaces of the key-lever and of the auxiliary lever in order that the movement of the type-bar may be accelerated as described in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that a simple and efiicient key action is provided" wherein the key-levers have a substantially uniform touch and are so arranged that a llt direct pull is imparted to the type-bar and in such a way that an accelerated movement very slow at first but very rapid at the final part of the depression of the key is obtained; that the construction is such that substantially all of said parts may be stamped from short steel or other material and are so made that they may be readily assembled; that the construction and the connection between he key-lever and the auxilinry lever is such that a minimum amount of friction is obtained; and that said key action is compact and comparatively few parts are employed in its construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent 1. In a typmvriting machine, the combination of a support, a platen, upwardly and rearvvardly movable type-bars, a plurality of key-levers forming different banks, a rod forming a pivot for all of said levers, an auxiliary lever for each keydever and ty ebar, a connection between each auxiliary dever and a typedmr, and a shiftable double rocking connection between each key-lever and its (lnill'lfillltlllg auxiliary lever support ed by said hey lever and auxiliary lever and importing an accelerated movement to said typc=barx 2, In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a support, a platen, an upwardly and rearvvanllq, movable t pe-bar, a key-operated lever, an auxiliary ever, a connection between said anxilinr lever and the ty ebar, and a rocking an direct connection between said levers bodily shiftable relatively thereto for imparting an emelerated movement to said typebar.

3. In a typewritingmachine, the combination of a )liltefi, an upwardly and rearwardly mova le typebar, a key-operated lever, an auxiliary lever, a connection between said auxiliary lever and said type bar, and a rocking connection between said levers shiftable bodily relatively thereto and supported solely thereby for imparting an accelerated movement to the type-bar.

4. In a typewriti'ng machine, the COmbI- nation of a platen, type-bars, a, plurality of keyJevcrs forming difierent banks, a pivoted auxiliary lever for each key-lever, a connection between acid auxiliary lever and a type-bar, and a shiftable floating and rocking link between eaeh hey-lever and its cooperating auxiliary lever 5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, upwardly and rear wnrdly movable type-bars, a plurality of key-levers forming different banks, a rod forming a pivot for all of said levers, a.

pivoted auxiliary lever for each key-lever, a connection between said auxiliary lever and a typebur, and a shiftable and floating rocking connection between each key-lever and its cooperating auxiliary lever for imparting an accelerated movement to said type-bar.

6 In a typewriting machine, the combination of a support, a platen, upwardly and rearwardly movable ty e-bars, a lurality of key-levers forming chflerent ban 8, a rod forming a pivot for all of said levers, an auxiliary lever for each key-lever, a connection between said auxiliary lever and a type-bur, and a double rocking link connection between each key-lever and its cooperating auxiliary lever.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a typebar having an upward and rearward movement, a key-operated lever, an auxiliary lover, a. connection between the auxiliary lever and the type-l ar, and a double acting shiftable link connection be tween the auxiliary lever and the key-operated lever; r

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bur, a key-opcrated lever, an auxiliary lever, a connectionbetween the auxiliary lever and the type-bar, and a double rocking link forming a connection between the auxiliary lever and the keyoperated lever.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar having an upward and rearward movement, a kcyoperatcd lever, an auxiliary lever, a link connecting the auxiliary lever to the type-bar, and a link forming a double rocking shiftable connection between the auxiliary lever and the key-operated lever.

10. In a typewriting machine, thle combination of a type-bar having an upward and rearward movement, a keyoperated lever, a pivoted auxiliary lever, a link connection between the uiixiliury lever and the type-- bar, and a double rocking bodily movable connection between the auxiliary lever and the key-operated lexer having a shiftable bearing and imparting an accelerated movement to the type-bar.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a typebar, a key lever, and a floating connection inter osed between the key- Icver and the typear shiftably engaging the key-lever and partly supported by said lever.

12. Inia typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, a key-lever, a pivoted auxiliary lever connected to the typebar, and a bodily movable connection between the key-lever and the auxiliary lever shiftable at both ends with relation to the said key-lever and auxiliary lever for imparting an a'ccelerated movement to said type-bar.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, a key-lever, and a floating shiftable double rocking connection between the key-lever and the typolmr.

14. In n. typewriting machine, the combination of an upwardl and rearwardly striking type-bar normal y held in a horizontal position, an auxiliary lever, a link normally ositioned in substantially parallel relation the type-bar and connecting said type-bar to one arm of said auxiliary lever, a keylever, and a floating connection between the ke -lever and the auxiliary lever and shiftab e at both ends for imparting an accelerated movement to said auxiliary lever and said t e-bar.

15. n a typewriting machine the combination of a type-bar normally held in a hori zontal position, a ivoted auxiliary lever, a link eonnectin said type-bar to one arm of said auxiliary ever, a key-lever and a double acting connection between the key-lever and the auxiliary lever wholly supported by said levers for imparting an accelerated movement to said auxiliary lever and the type-bar.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an upwardl and rcarwardly striking type-bar normal y held in a horizontal position, a ivotall held auxiliary lever, a link normal y positioned in substair tially parallel relation to the type-bar and connecting said type-bar to one arm of said auxiliary lever, a key-lever having its pivot at the rear of said auxiliary lever, and a double acting floating link connection between the key-lever and the auxiliary lever for imparting an accelerated movement to said auxi 'liary lever and. the type-bar.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combinationof a type-banan auxiliary lever, a connection between said lever and said typebar, a key-operated lever, and a double rocking connection havin a, variable bearing with said key-operated lever and said auxiliary lever.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, a pivoted auxiliary lever, a connection between said lever and said type-bar, a key-lever, and a rocking link connection having a shiftable rocking bearing at both ends between said key-lever and said auxiliary lever and wholly supported thereby.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, an auxiliary lover, a connection between said lever and said typebar a key-operated lever, and a rockin link having a variable hearing at both en s between said key-lever and said auxiliary lever.

'20. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, an auxiliary lever con 'nected to said type-bar, a key-lever, and a floating connection between said key-lever and said auxiliary lever and rocking on each of sai levers.

-21.- a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, an auxiliar lever, a

link connecting said type-bar wit said lever, a key-operated lever having an integral portion provided with a slot, said auxiliary ever also being provided with a slot, a lin having inturned ends of relatively different lengths engaging said slots and having a variable and shiftable hearing connection with said key-lever and auxiliary lever, and a spring for returning the auxiliary lever and key-lever to their normal position.

22. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, an auxiliary lever, a link connecting said type-bar with said 10- ver, a key-operated lever having a part thereof provided with a slot, said auxiliary lever also being provided with a slot, and a link having inturncd ends of relatively diffcrent lengths engagin said slots and having a variable and shi table bearing connection with said key-lever and auxiliary lever,

23. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, an auxiliary lever connected to said type-bar, a key-operated levcr having an integral portion provided with an elongated slot, said auxiliary lever also being provided with an elongated slot, and a link having intnrncd ends of relatively different lengths engaging said slots and having a variable and shiftahle bearing connection with said key-lever and auxil iary lever and wholly supported thorchv 24.. In a typcwriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, an auxiliary lover, a link connecting said typc-bar with said le ver, a key-operated lever provided with a slot, said auxiliary lever also being provided with a slot, and a floating link having ends of different lengths engaging said slots and having a variable shiftable hearing connection with said key-lever and auxiliary lever.

25. In a typewriting machine, the combination of type-bars, a link connected to one of the type-bars, a vertically arranged auxiliary lever for each type-bar having one arm connected to the link and having its other arm provided with a vertically arranged slot, a. pivotally held key-lever for each auxiliary lever having an integral vertically extending part rovided with a slot of greater length than t e slot in the auxiliary lever, comb plates forming a guide and spacing means for the auxiliary levers and the keylevers, links having integral lips and having parts entering the slots of the key-levers and the auxiliary levers and having a changeable bcaring connection therewith, and springs for returning the parts to their normal position.

26. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, a link connected to the type-bar, a vertically arranged auxiliary lever having one arm connected to the, link and having its other arm provided with a vertically arranged slot, a pivotally held key-lever having an integral vertically extending partprovided with a slot of greater length than the slot in the auxiliary lever an a link having parts entering the slots oi the key-lever and the auxiliary lever and having a changeable bearing connection therewith.

27. In a typewriting machine, the combi" nation of a type-bar, a link connected to the type-bar, a vertically arranged auxiliary lever having one arm connected to the link and having its other arm provided with a vertically arranged slot with one edge curved, a pivotally held key-lever havin an integral vertically extending part provlded with a slot of greater length than the slot in the auxiliary lever, and a link havin integral parts entering the slots of the eylever and the auxiliarly lever and having a changeable bearing connection therewith,

. said link having one of its bearing parts curved.

28. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar, a vertically arranged auxiliary lever having one arm connected to the type-bar and having its other arm pro-- ruled with a vertically arranged elongated slot, a pivotally held key-lever provided with an elongated slot of greater length than the slot in the auxiliary lever, and a fioatin link having parts entering the slots of the ltey-lever and the auxiliary lever and having a changeable bearing connection therewith. v

29. In a typewriting machine the combination of a type-bar, a key" lever, and a vari able movement device interposed between the type-bar and the ke lever and wholly supported b the movab e parts, said device having a shiftable fulcrum on the key-lever to give the type-bar a variable movement 30. In a typewriting machine the combination of a type-bar, a key lever, a pivoted auxiliary lever connected to the typc-har, and a movement accelerating device inter posed between the ke lever and the auxiliary lever and whol y supported by said levers, said device bein adapted to shiftably engage both of sai levers to accelerate the movement of the type-bar to the print ing point.

31'. In a typewriting machine the combination of a type-bar, a key lever, and a movement accelerating device interposed beiliary lever and whol y supported by said levers, on p0 nts of engagement between said device and the said leversmoving from and toward the pivots of said levers during the movements of the key lever to accelerate the movement of the type-bar to the print-- ing point.

33. In a. typewriting machine, the combistriking type-bar normally held in a suhstantially horizontal position, a ke lever, an auxiliary level, a link normaly posi tinned in substantially parallel relation to the type-bar and connectin said type-har to one arm of said auxiliai ly lever, and a floating link connecting the kcy-levcr and auxiliary lover and having a rocking hear ing on each lever for imparting an accelerated movement to said auxiliary lever and typc-bar.

34. In a typewritlng machine, the combination of an upwardly and rearwai'dly striking type-bar normally held in a Sui;

stantially horizontal position, an auxiliar lever pivotally su ported intermediate its.

ends, a link norma ly positioned in substantially parallel relation to the type-bar and connecting the ty e-bar'. to one arm of the auxiliary lever a. ey-lever having its pivot at the rear of the auxiliary lever, and a floating link connecting said levers and supported solely thereby, said link having a shiftable rocking bearin on each lever for imparting an accelerate movement to the auxiliary lever and the ty e-bar. v

This specification signe this 14th day of August, A. D. 1914.

and witnessed OTTO PETERMA'NNK Witnesses:

G. T. Yarns, R. BASTON.

'10 nation of an upwardly and rearwardly 

